Student-Led Website Creates Permanent Archive of Antisemitic Incidents at Concordia University
A new student-led website has launched in Montreal with the explicit purpose of creating a comprehensive and permanent archive of antisemitic incidents at Concordia University. This initiative comes as a direct response to the documented rise in antisemitism on campus following the October 7 massacre in Israel.
Documenting a Disturbing Trend
The website, known as Concordia Voices, serves as a centralized repository where visitors can access detailed information about antisemitic events that have occurred at the university. The platform allows users to view an extensive archive that includes photographs, videos, and written accounts of various incidents. Furthermore, the site accepts submissions from individuals who wish to report additional occurrences, with all entries undergoing a rigorous review and verification process before being added to the permanent record.
The student creators behind this project firmly believe that the university administration already possesses the necessary tools and authority to effectively address this escalating problem. However, they argue that decisive action has not been taken. By consolidating all relevant information into a single, easily accessible location, the students hope to illuminate the severity of the situation for the broader Canadian public and compel institutional accountability.
A Powerful Visual Statement
Upon visiting the Concordia Voices website, users are immediately confronted with a pop-up notification stating that the current archive remains incomplete and represents only a fraction of the total incidents that have transpired at the university. Following this, visitors are presented with a short, evocative video.
This video features what appears to be a Jewish student, identifiable by a Star of David necklace, navigating a dimly lit hallway alone. The scene captures a moment of tension as she retrieves her phone from her pocket. The glow from the screen illuminates her face as she reads alarming messages, including notifications about an "antisemitic attack at the Hall Building" and reports that "classes are blocked."
Echoes of Past Campus Tragedies
The presentation and tone of the website have drawn comparisons to cinematic portrayals of historical campus violence. Some observers note that the video's atmosphere is reminiscent of Denis Villeneuve's film "Polytechnique," which depicted the 1989 Montreal massacre. Concordia Voices narrates a contemporary horror unfolding on a different campus in the same city, more than three decades later.
While the current situation has not resulted in loss of life, the archive documents numerous physical assaults and a climate of fear. The severity was underscored when, on the second anniversary of October 7, Concordia University was forced to shut down due to legitimate safety concerns for students and staff.
Core Principles: Documentation and Accountability
The website's mission is built upon four fundamental pillars designed to ensure historical accuracy and safety: documentation, anonymity, accountability, and amplification. By creating what the group describes as an "immutable record of incidents, testimonies, and media," the initiative aims to prevent these events from being forgotten or obscured over time.
A central theme promoted by the site is the concept that "Silence is Complicity." The organizers argue that by presenting a verified, neatly organized archive directly to university administrators, faculty, staff, and students, any continued inaction transforms from passive neglect into a conscious and irresponsible choice.
The platform seeks to hold the institution accountable while giving "voice to those who have been silenced, ignored, or intimidated into quiet compliance." A dedicated "History" section on the site provides a timeline tracing the institutionalization of antisemitism at Concordia University in the period leading up to the October 7 attacks.
